Customers across Co. Leitrim urged to conserve water over busy Easter period

Information below is relevant until further updates are provided here or on our Supply and Service Updates section

Uisce Éireann is appealing to customers across County Leitrim to be mindful of their water usage over the Easter period, when demand on local water supplies typically increases due to higher household, commercial, agricultural, and visitor activity.

Over holiday periods such as Easter, increased water use can place additional pressure on rural water supplies.

High demand across the county can impact the balance between supply and demand and may lead to reduced pressure for some customers. While Uisce Éireann continues to actively manage the network and monitor water levels, customers across County Leitrim are being asked to take simple, practical steps to reduce unnecessary water use to help protect supplies and maintain resilience across rural areas during this busy period.

Uisce Éireann’s Kevin Love explained: “We typically see an increase in water use across the county over holiday periods like Easter. Small changes in daily habits can make a real difference when demand is high, helping to maintain pressure and protect supplies for homes, farms and businesses.

“In the past, in areas such as Corduff, Lecknagh and Edenbaun near Cloone and other parts of rural Leitrim, higher seasonal usage on the public water supply and many group water schemes supplied from public mains has shown how quickly pressure can build on local supplies. This then impacts the balance between supply and demand. That’s why we’re asking customers to take simple steps to use water wisely over the coming days.”

Even small reductions in water use, when combined across communities, can make a real difference in maintaining pressure and ensuring continued supply to homes and businesses. We also encourage customers to report any leaks to us on 1800 278 278 and to check for leaks at home or work by inspecting taps, joints and exposed pipes.

Customers looking for practical advice can visit the Uisce Éireann conservation calculator, which helps households and businesses understand their water use and identify simple ways to conserve water.

Below are some easy water-saving tips:

• Turn off the tap: Brushing your teeth with the tap running wastes up to six litres of water per minute. Turning it off while brushing can reduce that to just one litre.
• Switch to a shower: Showers use about half the amount of water as baths. Invest in water saving appliances such as water efficient taps and shower heads.
• Shorter showers: With the average shower using seven litres of water per minute by turning your five-minute shower into four minutes, you could save up to seven litres of water per day.
• Fully load your appliances: Always ensure your dishwasher and washing machine are fully loaded before use. A typical washing machine uses approximately 65 litres of water, and a dishwasher uses around 20 litres per cycle. By ensuring they are fully loaded, not only will you conserve water, but you will also reduce your energy bills.
• Leave the hose in the shed: Use a rose head watering can to water your plants instead of a hose or sprinkler. Running a hose for just one hour uses as much water as a family would typically need in an entire day.
• Bucket and sponge for your car: Using a bucket and sponge to wash your car can save hundreds of litres of water compared to using a hose or power washer.

More information on water conservation can be found on the Conservation setion of our website. Members of the public can report any leaks in the public water network by contacting Uisce Éireann at 1800 278 278 or online at Report a Leak. 

Uisce Éireann’s customer care team is available 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on X @IWCare with any queries. For further updates, visit the service and supply section of our website.

Uisce Éireann has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number at the text alerts page.